In fall 2022, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Japan, which was one of my biggest life goals. This adventure was my first time traveling alone outside of the United States, which was a little daunting but also exciting. After living in Tokyo, Japan for three months, I found my time there to be fulfilling as I made new friends, furthered my growth in the Japanese language, discovered cultural differences, and much more.
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When I first landed at the Haneda Airport and started making my way towards Senshu University, I was immediately met with several people walking around in the huge and bustling city of Tokyo. While I initially felt overwhelmed, the citizens were kind and assisted me when I asked for help, even when I occasionally struggled to communicate in Japanese. As I eventually arrived at the international dormitory, I was greeted by friendly staff members, the resident assistants, and other international students. Many of these new connections that I forged within this community were special as I learned about not only Japanese culture, but also various cultures from students across Spain, Canada, France, Germany, and more. As a result, living in this shared space with this group felt like another family and home.
A few days after arrival, our Japanese courses began and everyone was placed into the appropriate level. Each class had a small portion of students attending during the term, so I was able to have close connections and assistance from the professors. I was greatly encouraged to use Japanese throughout each period, which quickly improved my abilities in spontaneously speaking the language. Furthermore, the class provided both review and new material that contributed to furthering my skills in the four areas of language learning. I also attended a culture and history course in which I got to learn more about various subtopics such as gender, anime, tattoos, and education within Japanese society.
Both within and outside the university, there were a variety of cultural differences I encountered while living in Japan. One particular example is that commuting via the train is very common and people will often hold their bags in front of them to avoid pushing them against strangers. People also tend to be quiet on the train in order to not disturb the peace of others even when it was crowded, which contrasts my city bus commuting experiences in America.
The program also consisted of several excursions across different cities and districts in Japan such as Kamakura, Ikebukuro, and more. These trips were exciting as I had many in-person and hands-on experiences with the culture and history. One of my favorite excursions was when we traveled to Asakusa where we saw the Buddhist temple, Sensoji. We also learned about the traditional tea ceremony Sado and made green tea, which was both educational and enjoyable.
Overall, I deeply cherish my time in Japan as this adventure was a life goal of mine ever since I was a child. The program allowed me to gain knowledge, independence, friends, and skills that will be invaluable to my future personally, academically, and professionally. Due to all of my positive experiences, I hope to travel back to Japan one day to continue learning and building connections.
By Leighanna Huston
Senshu University Exchange, Fall 2022
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